FAA approves Alaska survey drone

Possibly signaling the start of wider commercial acceptance of drones, the Federal Aviation Administration has given the go-ahead to BP and AeroVironment to use an unmanned aircraft system over Alaska for surveying purposes.
This marks the first FAA authorization of a UAS over land.
“These surveys on Alaska’s North Slope are another important step toward broader commercial use of unmanned aircraft,” Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. “The technology is quickly changing, and the opportunities are growing.”